Textile Terms
All you need to know about textile terms and techniques.
Aari Embroidery
Aari embroidery is one of the many forms of embroidery originating in the Mughal era. It is an intricate process of enhancing fabric with fine and delicate thread work. It creates a beautifully luxurious appearance with a soft shimmer.
Appliqué
An embroidery technique in which pieces of fabric in different shapes are sewn onto a larger piece of fabric to form a decorative shape or pattern. Often used in cushion design.
Blanket-Stitch
A decorative stitch often used to reinforce the edge of thick materials, or as an effective detail.
Block Printing
Block printing is a hand-printing technique originating in China and used widely throughout East Asia, it is one of the earliest and simplest techniques of textile printing. Designs are carved into wood (or other material), then ink is rolled onto the raised area of the block and pressed onto fabric. A variety of blocks and colourways can be used to create beautifully intricate patterns.
Bouclé
This type of textile originates from the French words 'loop' or 'curl’. Bouclé textiles feature a surface of looped or curled yarns that have an interesting visual texture and a soft, almost fleecy touch.
Chambray
A lightweight two-tone woven cloth traditionally in cotton or linen and in a grey or blue tone. It is sometimes confused with denim, however chambray differs from denim in that it is lighter weight. Our Keaton core line demonstrates a modern twist on Chambray.
Digital Printing
A printing process whereby the image is created using tiny dots and many different colours, this allows for photographic detail to be printed in a way that is unable to be achieved by screen-printing.
Enzyme Washing
Enzyme washing is an ecologically-friendly laundering process that uses enzymes to soften and finish fabric, producing a slightly worn-in look and feel. The process is ecologically friendly due to the natural origins of enzymes (they are proteins produced by living organisms), being biodegradable, they do not linger in the water supply.
Foiling
A specialised technique whereby a thin film of metallic foil is impressed or printed onto fabric using a clear adhesive. Adds a luxurious feel to fabric and cushions.
French-Knotting
A decorative embroidery stitch made by looping the thread two or more times around the needle, which is then inserted into the fabric at the same point to form a small knot.
Loop Pile Tufting
A textile manufacturing process whereby a feature yarn is pulled out from the weave to create a raised texture.
Marled
Marled refers to a type of yarn that is created by twisting two or more strands of different colors into a single yarn. When woven or knitted, this produces a speckly, visually irregular fabric with a beautiful texture and interesting surface appearance.
Screen Printing
A printing technique whereby ink is pushed through a fine mesh to transfer a pattern onto fabric. The pattern is made by a blocking stencil which sits on the mesh screen. The result is a crisp edged artistic print in solid colour blocks.
Space Dyeing
A technique used to give yarn a unique, multi-coloured effect. Yarn is dyed in certain sections while on the yarn spool. When woven or knitted together, beautiful patterns emerge.
Tufting
A type of textile weaving in which yarns are woven into a base fabric, and the ends are left loose to create a fluffy texture. Areas which are raised and soft to the touch.